CWU Opens Workshop to Cultivate Student Employment, Entrepreneurship

With the guidance of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF), and the British Embassy in Beijing, China Women's University (CWU) and China Women's Universities Consortium (CWUC) jointly held a training workshop from July 14-15 on cultivating employment and entrepreneurship among female university students.

The seminar aimed to promote the development of women's employment and entrepreneurship in the context of the G20 and W20, and improve female university students' consciousness and ability to build startups in the internet era.

Some 80 female students from different provinces and municipalities participated in the gathering. Attendees also included experts and scholars from the Ministry of Education, the Department for Women's Development at the ACWF, China Development Research Foundation, and the Women's Foreign Language Publications of China.  

Lu Yamin, vice-minister of the ACWF International Liaison Department, said that many G20 countries have taken positive actions to promote women's participation in their economic construction and social affairs. 

The workshop had a special significance and addressed the challenges of the era, Lu added. The official hoped that students could acquire knowledge and experience, improve the awareness of gender equality, and promote women's development in some way.

Countries with more women involved in social affairs are more likely to thrive economically than those with a weak awareness of gender equality, according to the talk of the first secretary of the Economic and Financial Department at the British embassy in Beijing. 

The official fully affirmed China's attempts and achievements in realizing gender equality, and expressed an intention to strengthen China-UK economic cooperation. The two sides should seize opportunities in entrepreneurship, education, and flexible employment under the context of the G20 and W20, he added.

Li Mingshun, Chairperson of the CWU Council, said that higher education institutes should develop students' entrepreneurial abilities, as well as, encourage them to adjust themselves to the social needs and the employment environment, to start their own businesses and make innovations, which will not only create more jobs and increase personal incomes, but also improve upwards social mobility and social equity and justice. 

Li hoped that the training session could impress participants, and boost students' confidence.

Afterward, the organizers held another training course titled "Improving Female University Students' Entrepreneurial Ability, Promoting Gender Inclusion in Economic Development". 

During the meeting, Fang Wei, director of the China Higher Education Student Information and Career Center, delivered a speech, analyzing the employment situation and the national policies for college students to start a business, including entrepreneurship education, various innovations in financing, and business assistance.

Ma Yuenan, director of the ACWF Urban Development Division, introduced the key projects supported by the ACWF, and several stories about successful female entrepreneurs. With the theme of "Female University Students Employment and Entrepreneurship Cultivation under the Background of Structural Reform of the Supply Front", CWU vice-president Song Shengju shared her opinions on talent cultivation and education reform. 

Li He, originator of Uplady, the first women's motorcycle team in China, gave a lecture titled "Find the Specialty of Yourself among the Common". Pan Xingzhi, an experienced media insider and Relationship Consultant, highlighted the importance of hard work and innovation. She has established a mobile platform to provide relationship consulting services, which has proved to be a breakthrough in bringing traditional relationship consultations online, and has provided a successful platform for the industry.

Student representatives from the CWU, Shandong Women's University, and Hunan Women's University communicated and exchanged their opinions, and asked the successful entrepreneurs for consultation. 

The organizers discussed the so-called "Internet Plus" strategy, arranging various online activities; and, invited several famous publishing companies to provide students with a large number of relevant books.

After the event, the participants reached a consensus in supporting female university students employment and entrepreneurship cultivation. CWU and CWUC will work together to serve entrepreneurs, further integrate resources, optimize the talent cultivation plan, and enhance the cooperation and exchange between different universities, organizers said. 

(Source: China Women's University/Translated and edited by Gender Study Network)